Box for dispensing and receiving disposable tissues



Sept. 26, 1961 H. T. HERNBERG 3,001,645

BOX FOR DISPENSING AND RECEIVING DISPOSABLE TISSUES Filed June 15, 1960 INVENTOR.

HERMAN T. HERNBERG AT oR mags United States Patent F :Patented Sept. 26, 1961:

r 3,001,645 BOX FOR DISPENSING AND RECEIVING DISPOSABLE TISSUES Herman T. Hernberg, 5323 Tabor Road, Philadelphia, Pa.

Filed June 13, 1960, Ser. No. 35,471

2 Claims. (Cl. 206-57) This invention relates to a box for dispensing and re-v ceiving disposable tissues designed particularly for onehand manipulation such as would be particularly convenient for a driver of a car'.

It is quite customary for disposable tissues to be carried in a car for convenient use but in the case of the usual containers the problem is raised as to what to do with used tissues. -Itis anobject of the present invention to provide a box which, for the same number of tissues, is required to be very little larger than a conventional box, yet is arranged to receive soiled tissues in such a simple fashion that a driver may use only one hand in the handling of the tissues, the box remaining in a conventional position. Provisions have been proposed in the form of boxes having expandible pockets for receiving used tissues, but these are unsastisfactory because of the fairly elaborate manipulations which are required in the handling of the soiled tissues.

Briefly speaking, in accordance with the invention a box is provided having a rigid exterior but having a movable partition separating clean tissues from soiled ones and in such fashion that the clean tissues are held in a compact stack, the used tissues providing resilient pressure to cause the partition to maintain a properly stacked arrangement of the clean tissues so that they may be removed in the usual fashion. In addition an entrance is provided for the reception of the soiled tissues into which they may be inserted very readily without the necessity of a drivers looking at the box.

It will be obvious that the arrangement may be used under many other conditions though it is particularly useful in cars where manipulation by a driver is involved. The foregoing general object of the invention and other objects relating to details of construction will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the improved box as it exists during use; and

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the box showing its construction.

The box from the standpoint of its original condition has essentially the appearance and form of a conventional tissue box, being formed of substantially rigid cardboard and containing a stack of tissues desirably interleaved so that upon removal of one tissue another is presented for removal. The box is generally indicated at 2 and comprises a top 3 provided with the usual slot 4, opened by tearing of the box material, through which the uppermost tissue T to be removed is either projected or made available for gripping by the fingers. The box additionally comprises the bottom 5, a fixed end 7, and fixed sides 10. Conventional flaps are provided so that the box in assembled condition has its parts adhered together. The depth of the box may be, for a given number of tissues, slightly deeper than the usual box to provide for the reception of used tissues.

In accordance with the invention the left-hand end of the top 3 of the box, as shown, is provided with an extension 6 which is downturned and extends inwardly to provide a floating partition separating an upper tissuecontaining compartment 11 from a used tissue receiving compartment 9. Preferably the inner end of the partition 6 is downwardly and inwardly curved as indicated at 8 to form a substantial seal separating the used from the unused tissued D. The partition 6 substantially completely extends across the width of the box with a slidingfit therein.

As shown, at the left-hand end of the box there is a" closure flap 12 secured to the bottom 5 (or integral therewith) which originally is held in position to close the lefthand end of the box through the use of a tab extension 1-3 which maybe spot glued to the top of the box or other-' wise arranged so as to be readily dislodged. The sides of he flap 12 are secured to accordion folded elements 14' (or may be integral therewith) the inner edges of these elements being secured to the sides 10 of the box by adhesive. Alternatively, the elements 14 may be integral with the sides of the box and adhered to the flap 12. In view of'the construction just described, when the box is sold the clean'tissues are; stacked above the partition 6. which then may rest substantially against the bottom 5 of the box at least at its central portion. Because of the flexibility of the partition and the resiliency of the stack of clean compressed tissues and also the spring-like action of the turned portion 8 of the partition there is a yielding action which, even originally, holds the top tissues upwardly against the top of the box. As sold, the elements 14 extend inwardly in folded condition and the flap 12 is held closed by the adhered tab 13. It will be noted that even though a complete adhered closure along the tab 13 may not be provided, the contents of the box are wellprotected by the fact that the partition 6 downwardly and inwardly turned as indicated at 16 serves as a further protection against ingress of dirt.

When the box is to be used the removable strip of material of conventional type is torn away to provide the open slot 4 through which tissues may be removed. The tab 13 is then disengaged or cut and the flap 12 is pulled outwardly to provide an entrance as illustrated which is bounded by the flap 12 and the curved portion 16 of the partition 6. After a tissue is removed and used, it may be crumpled into a loose ball and inserted into the funnellike opening presented between the partition 6, the flap 12 and the narrow expanded elements 14. By reason of the fact that the elements 14 limit the opening presented, desirably to a size little more than necessary to receive the fingers, the used tissues D may then be pushed into the compartment 9 below the partition. Repetition of the foregoing results in accumulation of the used tissues which push each other into the compartment 9 and provide a spring or resilient action pushing the partition 6 upwardly to maintain the stacked unused tissues compacted as the upper compartment is emptied and the lower compartment is filled. This last action is particularly desired so as to keep the tissues in proper condition for removal.

By making the box slightly deeper than a conventional box for a corresponding number of tissues the fact that the used tissues are not carefully arranged does not prevent the box from being able to receive all of the dis carded tissues. Desirably about one-half inch extra depth is provided and is sufiicient. Accordingly the box may be used until the supply of tissues is exhausted whereupon it may be discarded along with its contents.

Because of the design of the box it will be evident that it may occupy a position on the seat of a car beside a driver so that in the same position tissues may be withdrawn and discarded tissues entered into the compartment 9. This can be done entirely by feel so that the attention of a driver need not be diverted from the road. The original blanks from which the box may be constructed may, obviously, be of different forms involving quite optional areas of application of adhesive. The invention is accordingly not to be regarded as limited except as required by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A box for the dispensing and receiving of disposable is'lies comprising a box structure of substantial rigidity provided by a top panel, a bottom panel and a plurality of side panels, one of the sides of said box structure being open, said top panel being'larranged to be opened for removal of clean tissues, a partition curved to extend downwardly and inwardly at said open side across theinte'rior of said box structure to divide it into upper and lower compartments, an operable flap orig'inallv closing sairl open 'side of the box and, when opened, providing access to said lower compartment for the repeption ofsoiled tissues, and meansopening or said: flap thereby to provide a funnel-like entrance between it and said partition. I U 7 v 2. A box forthe dispensing and receiving of disposable tissues comprising a be); structure of substantial. rigidity provided bya top panel, a bottom panel and a plurality of side panels, one of the sides of said box structure being open, said top panel being arranged to be opened for renidval of clean tissues, a partition durved; to extend downwardly and inwardly at saidopen'side and across the interior of said box structure to divide it into upper and lower compartments, an operable flap originally closing said open side of the box and, when opened, providing access to said lower compartment for the reception of soiled tissues, and means'lin iting opening of said flap thereby to provide a; funnel-like entrance between it and said pmition, said partition having a width corresponding substantially to that of said open side and being adapted to flatly engage the top p'ariel when said upper compartment has been completely exhausted of clean tissues, whereby the capacity of said second compartment ma be expanded to substantially that" of the entire box structure. V I

References Cited in the file ot this patent FOREIGN PATENTS Qanada -.;..;-2'.; Mal?. 

